A Day At The Lake !

Yesterday, I went to the lake for about 5 hours or so and just cruised around and swam for awhile. It was so great to just hang out in the water for the day! You can't beat it!
Most of the time I just went to the middle of the lake and turned the motor off and floated around. It was 105 degrees F but didn't feel like it while in the water, but I sure felt it as soon as we went back to the boat ramp!! Crazy Heat!!

Gone Fishin'...... Seven Times Out!

Today, I went to Marion Reservoir for the second time in a week, making this the seventh time out in my Lil Bump!!
I caught my limit on wipers with 5 total and caught two walleye that were right at the limit. I let the walleye continue for another day..
The other day when I went to Marion, I caught 4 wipers but let them all go back in for another day.

Five Times Out!

Well, I have had Lil Bump out five times now. Four times at Cheney Lake and the launch at my brother's little lake.
Yesterday, I took it out real early because there was calm winds and smooth water. I did a GPS speed reading and it would top out at 30 MPH no matter where I set the motor trim. Not bad, but I thought it would go a little higher! Really nice on smooth water too! It will zip right along with no slap on the bottom.
Did a little fishing too. Trolled for a few hours everywhere along the lake with no success. I then went up to the dam and was casting a fake minnow and caught one large white crappie. That was it for about five hours of fishing.
 Byron showed up with his jet ski and his friends.
No photos.

One Man Vintage Boat Show!

On July 7th, 2012, Selena and I went to Kanopolis Lake, KS for a Vintage Boat Show. I was going to take my boat, but thought again and decided against it right before we left. I am glad we didn't take it.
It is about one and one-half hour drive each way, and when we got there, there was one guy with four of his boats he had either built or restored. He also builds model boats (Radio control) and had a couple of those there as well. Nobody else showed up to show their boats!
He (Darrell) was very talented and here are a few pictures of his stuff. He wanted me to help start a Wooden Boat Show in the Kansas area, but I don't know if I am up for that.
His boats were a 1959 Cutter Cruiser, a 1959 Lone Star El Dorado, a 1974 (?) Starcraft Del Rey and a wooden boat he built.
The models were a Chris Craft and I am not sure of the other one although it may be a Chris Craft too. The smaller model had an Evinrude model motor that actually ran! He also built a marina model that was totally cool. I should have taken more photos of his models and stuff. Unbelievable detail!!

Daddy-Daughter Day Out!

On July 6th, 2012, I took my daughter, Selena, out for the first time on the boat as she wasn't able to make it on the 4th for the launch.
We went to Cheney Lake, a lake about 25 miles west of Wichita, KS. It was quite windy at first but the winds slowly died down to a normal 15 mph or so and it was pretty nice. Most of the time we stayed on the south-west shore line area, but did venture completely across the lake once to check and see if one of my boys was at Mr. D's cove. But he wasn't and when we got there, I ran aground more than 100 yards from shore!! The cove and the entire lake is down more than 5 feet at this time! I quickly shut off the motor and got out and pushed the boat until I was at least waist deep before getting out of that cove.
We spent the day just hanging out on the boat with the breeze coming through, and it is SOOO great to have shade from the cabin when you are out there!
I also did a GPS speed check on the boat, but it was in pretty rough water and against the wind, and I clocked right at 27 mph. I am pretty sure it will do about 30 to 33 mph on smooth water and no wind after I get it trimmed out.

FIRST LAUNCH AND MAIDEN VOYAGE!! VIDEO!!

Additional video!

FIRST LAUNCH AND MAIDEN VOYAGE!! VIDEO!!

FIRST LAUNCH AND MAIDEN VOYAGE!! VIDEO!!

And here is some video!

FIRST LAUNCH AND MAIDEN VOYAGE!! CONTINUED

Here are some additional photos and video!

FIRST LAUNCH AND MAIDEN VOYAGE!!

July 4th, 2012 was a very special day!! I launched my new boat at my brothers cabin near Kingman, Kansas where he has about a 40 acre lake. Most of my immediate family was there to watch the launch and maiden voyage.
The boat was christened "Lil Bump" by my mother using a christening fluid (Mead (honey, water and yeast)) that I made back on Christmas Day 2005. It has become of age and is now very drinkable and tasty! Lil Bump loved it!!!
The boat ramp was pretty steep but it floated off of the trailer with no problems. The motor started right up the first time again and I was off. I did some slow cruising for a few minutes, then slowly stepped up the speed until I was going at full speed. I ran up with my son who was on his stand-up Jet Ski and he would barely pull ahead of me. His Jet Ski has been clocked at 42 mph, so I think I was doing at least 35 mph, maybe more!
Lil Bump is very stable when slow or when a full speed, even in the turns.
Those are my twin boys, Byron in the yellow life jacket helping launch the boat, and Matthew in my boat in the blue shirt.
Thanks to my dad, Bob Wiechman, who took all of the photos!!